Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42008003›Full record

ReviewArchives of microbiology2026

Ethyl methanesulfonate mutagenesis in fungi: genetic mechanisms, applications, and implications for agricultural biotechnology.

Darin Edward Holman, Ameerah Imaan Abrahams, Kacey Hattingh, Crishé Saulse, Miché Hess, Daegan Stegmann, Muizz Roomanay, Gerhard Basson, Ashwill Klein, Marshall Keyster

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Archives of microbiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Darin Edward HolmanEnvironmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, 7535, South Africa. 3965207@myuwc.ac.za.
Ameerah Imaan AbrahamsEnvironmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, 7535, South Africa.
Kacey HattinghEnvironmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, 7535, South Africa.
Crishé SaulseEnvironmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, 7535, South Africa.
Miché HessEnvironmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, 7535, South Africa.
Daegan StegmannEnvironmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, 7535, South Africa.
Muizz RoomanayPlant Omics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, 7535, South Africa.
Gerhard BassonEnvironmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, 7535, South Africa.
Ashwill KleinPlant Omics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, 7535, South Africa.
Marshall KeysterEnvironmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, 7535, South Africa. mkeyster@uwc.ac.za.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) is a widely used chemical mutagen that induces high-frequency point mutations and has been extensively applied in genetic studies across diverse biological systems. While EMS-based mutagenesis frameworks are well established in plant research, their application in fungal systems remains comparatively fragmented and methodologically inconsistent. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the mechanisms, efficiency, and mutation profiles of EMS in fungi, with emphasis on forward genetics, functional genomics, strain improvement, and pathogenicity studies relevant to agricultural biotechnology. We critically evaluate methodological limitations, mutation validation challenges, and gaps in standardised screening and sequencing pipelines relative to plant EMS platforms. Furthermore, we contextualize reported laboratory-scale trait enhancements, such as enzyme production and stress tolerance, within their prospective agricultural relevance. Overall, this review highlights the need for standardized fungal EMS workflows, integrated genomic validation, and ecologically relevant phenotyping to advance fungal biotechnology and agricultural applications.

Indexed as

BiotechnologyEthyl MethanesulfonateFungiMutagenesisMutagensAgricultureEthyl MethanesulfonateMutagensBiocontrol agentsEthyl Methanesulfonate mutagenesisFungal geneticsMutant librariesSustainable agriculture

Identifiers

PMID42008003
PMCPMC13095979

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.